NHTSA Investigation EA02033

BALL JOINT SEPARATION

ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE HAD ONE OR BOTH OF THEIR LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATE AND CAUSE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND.DAIMLER CHRYSLER?S ASSESSMENT OF THE BALL JOINT FAILURES IS THAT THE JOINT FAILURE MAY BE PRECIPITATED BY THE LOSS OF JOINT LUBRICATION.THE LOSS OF LUBRICATION COULD RESULT IN ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLE JOINT SEPARATION. DAIMLER CHRYSLER BELIEVES THAT THE LOSS OF JOINT LUBRICATION IS THE RESULT OF LEAKS OR TEARS IN THE RUBBER BOOT THAT PROTECTS THE BALL JOINT.THESE LEAKS OR TEARS COULD BE CAUSED BY CONTACT WITH OTHER INTERNAL PARTS OF THE BALL JOINT OR TORSIONAL LOADING THAT TWISTS THE BOOT.BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 4, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THIS AGENCY OF ITS DECISION TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR ALL OF THE 11,698 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT FROM JANUARY, 1997 TO MARCH, 2001 TO CORRECT THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THIS EA (COPY ATTACHED).THE ACTION IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA AS RECALL NO. 03V-034.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.